Shorten PAL Approval Times
- Thread starter calalta
- Start date
I'm not trying to be a jerk here... But did you even read this thread?
28 days before it will show up online, for new applications.
Mine was online after about a week. However it's been almost 4 months and I don't have it yet
smokestack
Regular
- Location
- Near Edmonton
Well this certainly is a fun wee game isn't it?
I'd imagine that most people coming to this thread are probably reading page 1 and then jumping to the last page. I read a bunch of pages.
So I'm in AB.
Sent-in my application (PAL) and challenged test results on August 13.
I started checking the site yesterday or the day before and my application has been received and is being processed..call back later blah blah blah.
Of course the test examiner instructed me to call-in about a month after sending my application. Apparently this would speed-up the process.
I called and said I was just making sure there weren't any issues with my application. I was told that everything was fine. There was a slight delay initially but my application is now at the AB CFO's office in Edmonton. Could take 3 weeks I was told.
I found the ext# for my CFO. Tip, after calling NB and getting into their phone system you hit 1 twice and THEN the ext#.
I called the Edmonton CFO and the lady said that they had received my application 2 weeks ago exactly so it's early and that background checks and a few other things still need to be done. I asked if she saw any issues and she said nope. Looks good.
So, this is all pretty promising. As long as the AB office doesn't drag their feet too much and as long as they don't find-out that I used to be a psychotic serial killer (I'm cured of all that) lol I guess it wont be too much longer.
From what I have been reading in this thread I'm glad I live in AB. Ontario, Quebec and maybe Manitoba seem to be pretty problematic and take SO long.
I'll update as required. Hopefully that will be tomorrow with me saying my PAL is issued, I got the # over the phone and I'm right now shopping at Canadian Tire with a cart full of SKSs.
;-)
I'd imagine that most people coming to this thread are probably reading page 1 and then jumping to the last page. I read a bunch of pages.
So I'm in AB.
Sent-in my application (PAL) and challenged test results on August 13.
I started checking the site yesterday or the day before and my application has been received and is being processed..call back later blah blah blah.
Of course the test examiner instructed me to call-in about a month after sending my application. Apparently this would speed-up the process.
I called and said I was just making sure there weren't any issues with my application. I was told that everything was fine. There was a slight delay initially but my application is now at the AB CFO's office in Edmonton. Could take 3 weeks I was told.
I found the ext# for my CFO. Tip, after calling NB and getting into their phone system you hit 1 twice and THEN the ext#.
I called the Edmonton CFO and the lady said that they had received my application 2 weeks ago exactly so it's early and that background checks and a few other things still need to be done. I asked if she saw any issues and she said nope. Looks good.
So, this is all pretty promising. As long as the AB office doesn't drag their feet too much and as long as they don't find-out that I used to be a psychotic serial killer (I'm cured of all that) lol I guess it wont be too much longer.
From what I have been reading in this thread I'm glad I live in AB. Ontario, Quebec and maybe Manitoba seem to be pretty problematic and take SO long.
I'll update as required. Hopefully that will be tomorrow with me saying my PAL is issued, I got the # over the phone and I'm right now shopping at Canadian Tire with a cart full of SKSs.
;-)
smokestack
Regular
- Location
- Near Edmonton
HOLY CRAP UPDATE!!
As I mentioned above...mailed my PAL application on Sept13. Instructor also said (as this thread recommends) to start calling after about 30 days and that that WILL speed-up the process.
Started checking the status on the site a few days ago. Got the in progress message.
As per this thread I called the AB CFO.
The nice lady said...we've only had it for a couple of weeks. It will take quite a while more. It's quite early to be checking blah blah blah...
Not sure why but after supper I decided to check the main site again and.. :-O APPROVED!!! If you don't receive it within 2 weeks.....
I don't know if things would have been different (taken a lot longer) if I hadn't called but 42 DAYS since I mailed it in?? Man AB sure doesn't mess around too much. Maybe they realize that us rednecks are already 2 weeks into hunting season and time's a wastin!?
I'm pretty shocked. I was expecting to wait at LEAST 3 months from the time I mailed it in. In fact the instructor said 3-4 months is typical right now.
SO, for everyone applying...if you are skipping to page LAST of this thread rather than reading through almost all 8000 posts...follow the steps and it will go as quickly as it can possibly go.
-Mail-in your PROPERLY filled-out application and test results and photo. (oh btw mine was only a PAL and not a RPAL...references did not get called and neither did I)
-After a couple of weeks you can start checking their site for the progress. Of course you can do this before 2 weeks but...
-After about 30 days call the NB office and politely ask if there's anything missing or incorrect on your application.
-If it is still in their office, call back in a few days and again politely ask if there's anything they need. Once they say your application has been sent to your provincial CFO's office, call them and ask them if there's anything they need.
If everything is correct on your application and if you follow the steps recommended in this thread you will get your license as fast as physically possible. And it seems that depending on your province's CFO, as fast as physically possible might be really really FAST!
In fact, they don't mess with peoples' apps and drag them out on purpose. I'm sure they go as fast as they can. I'm also sure that they get daily complaints because the system is so SLOW. Well I'm going to call them today and tell them that they are doing a great job. I bet they don't hear that very often.
Oh and sorry...forgot one more important step to follow if you want your PAL VERY FAST. Move to ALBERTA!! lol. Yeouch. Sorry.
Now it's off to the EE forum ;-)
As I mentioned above...mailed my PAL application on Sept13. Instructor also said (as this thread recommends) to start calling after about 30 days and that that WILL speed-up the process.
Started checking the status on the site a few days ago. Got the in progress message.
As per this thread I called the AB CFO.
The nice lady said...we've only had it for a couple of weeks. It will take quite a while more. It's quite early to be checking blah blah blah...
Not sure why but after supper I decided to check the main site again and.. :-O APPROVED!!! If you don't receive it within 2 weeks.....
I don't know if things would have been different (taken a lot longer) if I hadn't called but 42 DAYS since I mailed it in?? Man AB sure doesn't mess around too much. Maybe they realize that us rednecks are already 2 weeks into hunting season and time's a wastin!?
I'm pretty shocked. I was expecting to wait at LEAST 3 months from the time I mailed it in. In fact the instructor said 3-4 months is typical right now.
SO, for everyone applying...if you are skipping to page LAST of this thread rather than reading through almost all 8000 posts...follow the steps and it will go as quickly as it can possibly go.
-Mail-in your PROPERLY filled-out application and test results and photo. (oh btw mine was only a PAL and not a RPAL...references did not get called and neither did I)
-After a couple of weeks you can start checking their site for the progress. Of course you can do this before 2 weeks but...
-After about 30 days call the NB office and politely ask if there's anything missing or incorrect on your application.
-If it is still in their office, call back in a few days and again politely ask if there's anything they need. Once they say your application has been sent to your provincial CFO's office, call them and ask them if there's anything they need.
If everything is correct on your application and if you follow the steps recommended in this thread you will get your license as fast as physically possible. And it seems that depending on your province's CFO, as fast as physically possible might be really really FAST!
In fact, they don't mess with peoples' apps and drag them out on purpose. I'm sure they go as fast as they can. I'm also sure that they get daily complaints because the system is so SLOW. Well I'm going to call them today and tell them that they are doing a great job. I bet they don't hear that very often.
Oh and sorry...forgot one more important step to follow if you want your PAL VERY FAST. Move to ALBERTA!! lol. Yeouch. Sorry.
Now it's off to the EE forum ;-)
- Location
- Atlantic Canada
Mailed it on Sept 02, and showed online: received on Sept.05. Had my reference to call in.
Updates: Just checked online status: my RPAL has been issued.
Updates: Just checked online status: my RPAL has been issued.
Last edited:
Mine has still been 54 days. It took them over 1 week to send me finished application to the CFO from when they told me they would so its probably slowed everything down. Must be hard to fax over some papers. My roommate sent his over 70 days ago and still no info on his once it got sent to the CFO. I did save my self time calling in and getting my references to call in along with confirming my payment.
Calling the CFO is useless, the secretary will pick up and won't forward you over saying there busy and you should get it by the end of the month....
Calling the CFO is useless, the secretary will pick up and won't forward you over saying there busy and you should get it by the end of the month....
smokestack
Regular
- Location
- Near Edmonton
Well...my PAL was "issued" the day before yesterday. Iirc somewhere in this thread it said that they mail them out on Thursdays?
That means I MIGHT get mine today. Mail takes one day to get here from Edmonton...when I'm lucky.
I called the Edmonton CFO to see if I could get my number so that I could order stuff online and the nice (?) lady said that they can't give them out over the phone.
I took a minute with her and said that I'm sure that all she gets are calls from irritated people waiting for their PALs but that I'm here to say how GREAT of a job you're doing. I explained the timeline of my application and how quickly it was handled. I gave her a great big THANK YOU and told her to have a wonderful day.
She still didn't give me my# rotflmao.
I sure hope it gets here today. If it doesn't I'm gonna have to.....wait some more I guess? Till Monday? :-(
That means I MIGHT get mine today. Mail takes one day to get here from Edmonton...when I'm lucky.
I called the Edmonton CFO to see if I could get my number so that I could order stuff online and the nice (?) lady said that they can't give them out over the phone.
I took a minute with her and said that I'm sure that all she gets are calls from irritated people waiting for their PALs but that I'm here to say how GREAT of a job you're doing. I explained the timeline of my application and how quickly it was handled. I gave her a great big THANK YOU and told her to have a wonderful day.
She still didn't give me my# rotflmao.
I sure hope it gets here today. If it doesn't I'm gonna have to.....wait some more I guess? Till Monday? :-(
^FYI, I'm waiting for my PAL to arrive in the mail too, I was able to "purchase" a firearm without it. Obviously can't pick it up, but if it's on sale you can pay first to hold the firearm and then you just send them your PAL information when it arrives. Thank you to another member (LSB) who brought this to my attention.
I've been trying all day with no luck.
Just thought I would give my experience on this. Sent my pal (no rpal) application in and it took 3 weeks to show up online. I actually called them and asked them why it's not online yet and she said it could take 5 weeks. A day later it was online and set to processing. Received a call a few days later (missed it) and an email saying they have some questions about my application. Called in and I had checked one of the boxes for the rpal wrong and they corrected it. She said to me without me asking that my picture would be sent for scanning and that could take two weeks. I said ok thanks. 9 days later status changed to issued. No ref calls no interview. 34 days from them receiving it. Now I am just waiting for it in the mail. Should of had it Thursday or Friday but our mail person has not delivered mail in 3 days!!! No one is getting mail on our street, kinda strange. I can't complain though could still be waiting for it to be issued. Should get it by Tuesday I would think.
You guys think rpal applications can slow things down?
You guys think rpal applications can slow things down?
whiteoutjeeper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
Not by much, my RPAL was issued in 36 or 37 days and it was a first time application. If my reference called in when I told him to, I could have shaved two more days off.
I thought it may be people with rpal applications that are getting longer delays but I gather not. I just don't understand how some people wait 100 days and some 30, even if the applicants are from the same province?? Seems strange. I am thinking that the people who get long waits have something on their record even really small things that hold up the application or they harass the RCMP everyday. It could also just be random, sort of like getting pulled out of the lineup at the boarder or airport.
I am going to apply for my RPAL soon so I will see how long that wait is and post here. In some way I am kind of happy I did them at different times only because I can see if the wait time changes a lot or if they actually call my references this time.
